Hiring can be an arduous process when you know who you need and when. But when you’re not certain which legal support staff you’ll need to add in the coming weeks or months, the process can seem daunting.
Not sure who you’ll need to add to your staff as your law firm or legal department expands? Here are some “first steps” toward identifying your upcoming hiring needs:
- Look for areas of growth or expansion. Practice areas that are growing, large projects on the horizon for your organization, major changes in legislation, or “hot topics” in your field all offer opportunities for growth. They also offer areas in which you may need to add one or more experienced legal support staff in the near future. Narrow down those your organization is most likely to pursue, and add them as areas of potential hiring.
- Make note of who is likely to leave. Legal support staff who are nearing retirement age, who have talked about making a life change, or whose performance is slipping despite attempts to correct it, may all be moving on in the near future, leaving an opening your organization you will need to fill. While you may not be able to poll your staff directly, being aware of each team member’s approach is key.
- Review your current and past job descriptions. Do the job descriptions for each legal support position represent the work that individual is actually asked to perform? As the field changes, so do the tasks required in certain positions. Likewise, as the firm or department grows, contracts, or reorganizes, tasks may be shuffled from person to person, added, or eliminated. Up-to-date job descriptions allow you to more accurately pinpoint possible “skills gaps” among your staff. They also allow you to move more quickly to recruit when needed.
- Talk to your recruiter. An experienced recruiter who specializes in placing legal support staff can help you identify potential future hiring needs and create a strategic staffing plan to address them.
At Kent Legal, our experienced recruiters help law firms and legal departments throughout the greater Toronto area find the talent they need. Contact us today to learn more about our legal support recruiting services.
